Capo on the 1st Fret: Key and Chords
With a capo on the 1st fret, every string sounds one semitone (a half step) higher than open. You finger the same shapes, but the chord you hear is higher: a G shape sounds as Ab, a C shape sounds as C#, a D shape sounds as Eb, and an Em shape sounds as Fm.
In short, the key you hear is the key of your shapes plus one semitone. Use the tool below to check any shape, or read the chart.
Chord chart with the capo on the 1st fret
Left column: the open shape you play. Right column: the chord that actually sounds with the capo on the 1st fret. Every row follows one rule: the scale has 12 notes, and each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.
| Shape you play | Chord you hear |
|---|---|
| C | C# |
| A | Bb |
| G | Ab |
| E | F |
| D | Eb |
| Am | Bbm |
| Em | Fm |
| Dm | Ebm |
To transpose a whole progression, change every chord the same way. A progression of G, C, D, Em played with the capo on the 1st fret sounds as Ab, C#, Eb, Fm. Want a different pairing of shapes and frets? The full capo chart covers every fret from 1 to 9.
Why players put the capo on the 1st fret
The first fret is the smallest move a capo can make. It lifts every open shape by one semitone, which is handy when a song sits just under your singing range or when you want to match a recording that is a half step above the open-chord version. Because the capo sits right at the top of the neck, the guitar keeps the same feel under your hand and all the open strings still ring. Keep it tight against the fret wire so every string rings clean.
A capo acts as a new nut: it lets you play in a different key with the same fingerings as open strings, as the Wikipedia article on the capo explains. New to it? Read how to use a capo, and if you need one, browse our guitar capos.
Try another fret
Or open the capo chart and transposer to pick any shape, fret or target key.
Frequently asked questions
The key is one semitone above the key of the shapes you play. G shapes sound in Ab, C shapes in C#, D shapes in Eb, A shapes in Bb and E shapes in F.